ENGLISH
REFERENCE

end up with

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to have or get something at the end of a process, often when you did not plan for it.

phr. v.. to eventually reach a state of possession or a final result after a series of events; often implies an unintended or accidental outcome.


SIMPLE

I went shopping for shoes but ended up with a new hat.

CONTEXTUAL

If you don't follow the recipe exactly, you might end up with a very dry cake.

COMPLEX

After months of legal negotiations and several failed compromises, the company ended up with a much smaller share of the market than they had originally anticipated.

Particles
up with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
end + up + with + object
Usage

usually followed by a noun phrase representing the final result or possession.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'end up' + gerund (e.g., 'end up paying'); 'end up with' specifically focuses on the final object or person one is left with.

Pitfall

We ended up with go to the park.We ended up going to the park.use 'end up with' for things (nouns) and 'end up' + -ing for actions (verbs).

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